Suck it Up

I've been looking for a company to clean and sanitise my rugs. I bought my wool rugs from IKEA so that they provide a cushion for any falls by my 10-mth old. One of the rugs, I actually shipped back from the USA since it was a gift from my husband and I absolutely love the design. Anyway, I finally found a company called De'Hygienic. They claim they use organic materials. Got a quote for both rugs, it will be $200 to clean them. WAH!!! Anyway, looks like a necessary expense since my vacuum doesn't have the carpet roller brush to do the job. The photo is a sampling of what will be sucked up from my mattress if I hired them to clean it too. Apparently, the white stuff consists of dust mites and some fibres from my mattress. I'm still not sure if I need to do that. Will see.

Is there really a Croc for everyone?

I was intrigued to see a post on the SingaporeMotherhood forum about the recent Crocs Expo Warehouse sale. Apparently, people took about 20-30 mins to shop but had to get in line to pay for 2 hours or more. Siao! Well, I'm a huge fan of comfy shoes so I wish I could get a Croc to fit me. But alas! Every model I've tried is either too wide or too flat toed. You see, I've got a longer second toe so sometimes, closed-toe shoes get in the way. Anyway, my sister introduced me to the most comfy flipflops I've ever worn. They are called FitFlops and they give you a workout when you walk! Sure or not you ask? I don't know but it's comfy, that's all I care about.

Nostalgic Visit

I didn't expect to feel nostalgic when I visit the Land Transport Gallery but I did when I saw these bus tickets. Remember them? You probably would if you're 70's baby. The gallery was surprisingly interesting and impressive. I think families should visit for sure! It's interactive (great to keep kids entertained), fun and best of all, FREE! Tours are guided so best to call ahead to reserve a timeslot. Like the NEWater Visitor's Centre, there's lots of info to steer you towards understanding government policy but hey, what do you expect lah? Details at http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/lt_gallery.htm

Art Maid

My foreign domestic helper painted these two paintings. I discovered her talent in art and her creativity by observing how she played with my children. So I offered to help her nurture her interest. We borrowed lots of "How to Paint" DVDs from the library for her to watch in the evenings and sometimes books too. I then bought acrylic paints and some canvases and asked her to paint the black and white portrait for my living room. (See top painting) I thought she did a really nice job, considering she's had no official training. Anyway, a friend came to visit me at home and said she liked the painting so I offered her the opportunity to buy a custom-piece too from my maid to help her out too. She had unexpectedly lost her father, who was her family's only other breadwinner. Since my friend wanted a colour painting, she had to get her new paints and the canvases too. The bottom creation is for my friend. I hope she likes it.

Dress Up Wayang Fun

Haw Par Villa is an interesting place to visit but with children, it might be a tad scary for them and you'll find yourself explaining a lot of things to them, stuff you probably don't really want to explain. However, the park offers a rather unique activity for the family. For $6 a person, you can choose a costume, wear it, and take photos with your own camera! It's unlimited... the number of shots you want to take so if you're planning a cute Chinese-themed Christmas card photo, this might be a fun family outing.

The Wizard of Oz Garden

The Wizard of Oz musical is now showing at the Drama Centre. If you've got limited funds, take the kids to the Wizard of Oz garden instead at HortPark!

Playground Galore At HortPark

I visited HortPark recently for the Baby on Board project and discovered these playgrounds located within! Imagine how much play time your kids will have when you take them to visit. Parents will also enjoy the leisurely stroll through the various gardens at HortPark. They inspire and impress. If you're not a fan of the sun, bring an umbrella and make sure you slap on sunscreen on the kids too coz there's limited shade, as you can see from the photos.